Category Archives: politics

Voters told to ignore politicians

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Voters-told-to-ignore-politicians-30291932.html

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THE NATION August 2, 2016 1:00 am
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Meechai says ‘it’s dangerous to trust politicians’, as NCPO denies ‘voting order’

THE powers-that-be yesterday urged voters to use their own judgement and not allow politicians to |influence their decisions when casting their ballot in Sunday’s referendum on the new constitution.

Meanwhile, Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission, warned voters yesterday against basing their decisions on comments by politicians. He said doing so would be “dangerous” as politicians have conflicts of interest regarding the new constitution.

“The constitution has provisions to be enforced affecting not only the public, but also politicians. If you totally believe political parties and politicians, without respect to the content of the draft, that is dangerous. It’s because politicians also have conflicts of interest,” Meechai said.

Responding to politicians’ warnings that the constitution could cause conflicts in the future, the chief drafter said Pheu Thai and Democrat politicians could join hands in the future to amend the charter.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said people should vote how they liked. “If you like [the draft], vote yes. If you don’t, vote no,” he said.

Prawit said the government had not conducted surveys to determine the possible results of Sunday’s vote.

He reiterated that the next general election would certainly be held next year in accordance with the government’s political roadmap.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda urged voters to use their own judgement when going to the poll, saying that nobody should be able to tell them how to vote.

“This is our basic right. It’s |inappropriate for anyone to tell us how to vote. I want voters to use their judgement and knowledge. This is the democratic way,” Anupong said.

The suggestions came after politicians from the largest political parties, Pheu Thai and Democrat, made comments against the draft constitution. Last week, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajivabecame the latest political heavyweight to say he would vote against the draft.

Prawit yesterday also dismissed a rumour that military personnel had been ordered to vote for the draft charter. “That’s not true. Nobody did so. The decision should be based on personal preference,” he said.

The spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Colonel Piyapong Klinpan also denied there had been an NCPO order telling military personnel how to vote in the referendum.

“There has been no special order from the NCPO commanders [regarding this matter]. Everyone in the |military ranks is allowed to vote freely,” he said.

In a related development, Midnight University, a group of political activists and academics, yesterday issued a statement criticising the draft constitution.

The group said the draft would establish a new political system |dominated by “the privileged”, which would be against democratic principles. The statement said the process of drafting the charter had been authoritarian and done by a small group of people.

The group also said its members would vote against the additional |referendum question asking whether selected senators should be allowed to vote with elected MPs to select the new prime minister for the next five years if the new constitution takes effect. The statement said the stipulation would allow a non-MP to become prime |minister and help the junta to retain its power.

However, Suthep Thaugsuban, a politician-turned-political activist, said yesterday empowering senators to choose the prime minister would help to ensure a neutral PM and reform efforts not disrupted.

Suthep said in his daily Facebook Live broadcast he was convinced new senators would have no connections with political parties and therefore would not have conflicts of interest.

Your Say, Your Charter

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Your-Say-Your-Charter-30291838.html

REFERENDUM SPECIAL

Juthathip Lucksanawong
THE NATION August 1, 2016 1:00 am
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SUNISA LERTPAKAWAT, A PHEU THAI MEMBER AND FORMER DEPUTY GOVERNMENT SPOKESWOMAN

If the draft passes the referendum, people’s right to get social welfare, free education, public health welfare and so on would deteriorate. The draft does not guarantee all people’s equality under state welfare and access to national resources.

VAS TINGSMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Personally, my life would be the same. However, the draft would have a positive impact on my organisation. The commission would function under an organic law due to be written after the draft is passed. Under the organic law, the NHRC could work faster than under the current Act.

KAMOL RUANGSOOKSRI, BURI RAM MUANG MAYOR

I cannot see how things would go if the draft were approved. The PM has told nothing about what would happen if the draft gets approved or rejected. If it were turned down, would the military regime stay on in office to rewrite it or pick one of the past constitutions and amend it?

KRISADA MONTHATHIP, BAN SOMMAI VILLAGE HEAD, UDON THANI PROVINCE

No change would occur since I would have to carry out my duty as a village head as usual. No matter which political bloc takes office, I have to pass on its policies to villagers. I will do my best to serve the villagers.

CDC defends charter summary with week to go

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-defends-charter-summary-with-week-to-go-30291842.html

NEW CONSTITUION

WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION August 1, 2016 1:00 am

A seminar on “How do we interpret a ‘No’ Vote” is held |yesterday at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus.

A seminar on “How do we interpret a ‘No’ Vote” is held |yesterday at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus.

Criticism of pamphlets as propaganda that distorts new charter rejected by drafters.

CHARTER DRAFTERS said yesterday |authorised “simplified summary” booklets do not present distorted information as some |critics have claimed.

Authorities, meanwhile, have stepped up efforts to convince the public not to be |convinced by “false” information in the six days before the referendum.

The summary pamphlets conveying the gist of the draft, published by the Election Commission (EC) last month and distributed to 17 million households nationwide, have been criticised as propaganda that exaggerates the benefits people will receive if the charter is enacted.

The legal watchdog group Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw) blamed the pamphlets not only for alleged exaggerations, but also because they convey additional information not presented in the original version of the draft while omitting controversial points, |especially those regarding newly invented |parliamentary mechanisms.

iLaw published 34 infographics last week explaining its concerns about the pamphlets on its Facebook page, which have received more than 2,300 shares so far.

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Those arguments, however, were countered by Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) spokesman Chatchai Na Chiangmai, who told The Nation that the CDC authored the summarised content of the pamphlets with only the intent to simplify complexity of the charter draft. Emphasising that the CDC did not distort the draft’s content by merely “summarising”, Chatchai said extra information needed to be added only to provide a clearer picture of what will happen if the draft is enacted.

Some points in the draft were also omitted because they were “too trivial” for people in general to acknowledge, Chatchai added.

The spokesman said that the CDC would probably not make official remarks on the matter despite the series of allegations about the pamphlets. “If they want to fix it, they should raise their concerns to us. Speaking elsewhere doesn’t help,” Chatchai said.

“Pamphlets for people to study”

Meanwhile, government Spokesperson Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said people should stick to EC-organised platforms to obtain knowledge about the charter draft, including the EC’s website, mobile application and the pamphlets.

“People, as holders of rights [to vote], should get to understand the draft by themselves,” Sansern said. “They should not believe politicians or ill-intentioned people who keep distorting facts and creating misunderstanding.”

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has also urged provincial order centres to closely monitor the situation during last stretch before the referendum, Sansern added.

EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn reiterated rules that apply to the run-up to the referendum, including that polling must not be conducted starting today at 4pm until August 7.

Surveys conducted and published earlier can be shared online but pollsters are not allowed to redistribute the results.

At social gatherings, people should not try to persuade others to vote in a particular way, he said, while social events held from 6pm on next Sunday to Monday must not serve alcoholic drinks.

Meanwhile, across the country, various activities focused on the final week ahead of the vote.

Pumsan Seniwong na Ayuthaya, Democrat Party chairman of the strategic committee on special activities for the Northeastern region, urged people to exercise their consciences before deciding whether to accept or reject the draft.

He said he did not question the Democrat Party’s decision to reject the draft on the grounds of democratic principles but he did not want the referendum to cause divisions between people who work together to protect the country. “We should give respect to one another. Do not forget about reform and the country’s enemy,” he said.

In Lop Buri more than 300 Thai students rallied in Kok Samrong district to urge people to cast ballots in the referendum.

In one example in Songkhla, a retired teacher took part in the referendum campaign by riding pillion on a modified motorcycle to encourage voters to cast their ballots.

Alert in the South

Meanwhile, security officials yesterday warned people in the deep South of car bomb attacks during the last week ahead of the referendum.

Colonel Therdsak Ngamsanong, deputy commander of the Yala Special Task Force, said people could cast their ballots in safety because officials would be united to keep the deep South peaceful and orderly.

He admitted that language barriers made it difficult for people to understand the charter draft but he hoped that draft specialists would explain to voters how to cast their ballots.

Therdsak added that the driver of a pick-up truck that was stolen in Yala, which authorities suspected could be used in a car bomb attack, had escaped along a route towards Krong Pinang district in Yala.

He said the perpetrator might wait until authorities stop searching for the |vehicle before modifying it and committing a crime.

What they say

Election Commission pamphlet

Preschool children will receive standard care and development for two years, free, prior to school education.

All people will receive efficient and equal public health service;

[All] procedures on national reform will be completed within five years;

Farmers will be guided to a sustainable approach of self-sufficiency.

iLaw

Article 54 doesn’t specify the period of free pre-school education that children will receive;

Article 55 doesn’t mention equality in terms of public health service;

Article 259 stipulated that expected reform results must bear fruit within five years but does not mention that all reforms must be completed within five years;

Article 75 doesn’t specify farmers as beneficiaries of a state-organised economic system;

The EC booklet skips a number of the draft’s controversial elements, such as the Senate being selected by the junta and having increased power. The junta, together with its appointed legislators and reformers, will also continue to stay in power.

CDC’s counter-argument

The CDC only simplified the logic of Article 54 because pre-school children normally attend nurseries for two years prior to kindergarten;

Article 4 of the draft already stipulates that people’s equality shall be protected;

CDC insists on its explanation in the pamphlet;

Article 73 stipulates that the state provide measures or mechanisms to assist farmers in carrying out efficient agriculture;

Many of the points are in transition thus the CDC decided to omit them as it wished to provide a broad picture of the draft.

Source : Election Commission, iLaw, CDC.

 

I will run in next poll, says Abhisit

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POLITICS

PIYAPORN WONGRUANG,
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION August 1, 2016 1:00 am
ABHISIT

ABHISIT

Ready to accept public verdict in charter, say EX-PM, while still opposing the draft.

ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, head of the Democrats, the country’s oldest political party, admits that his declaration of an opposing stance to the charter may have an impact on his leadership, but insists that both he and the party will contest the next election if it passes the referendum.

“I feel pretty comfortable because our party, the Democrats, is a party that has a system in place to manage things,” he said. “Whatever the impact, I trust that it would not go beyond our party’s system to deal with it. There should be no problem,” he said.

His comments on Wednesday, 11 days before the referendum, will affect his position as party leader, as supporters will see it otherwise, but the party had a long democratic tradition of giving members the chance to participate in party issues, he said.

Abhisit’s rejection of the charter could be one of his most difficult decisions. Under his leadership, the party twice boycotted elections – on April 2, 2006 and February 2, 2014.

The former PM has had both praise and criticism over his latest stance.

Observers have said his “vote no” declaration could drive a wedge between him and Suthep Thaugsuban, former party secretary-general and now chairman of the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation.

Suthep, who led masses of supporters to oust Yingluck’s government and helped spur the junta to stage the coup in 2014, has thrown his full support behind the charter.

Despite leaving the party two years ago to lead the protest, Suthep still wields influence within the party.

However, Abhisit has Chuan Leekpai, the heavyweight ex-party leader, former prime minister and his mentor, on his side.

Democrat members and supporters have been confused on whether they should vote as Abhisit has suggested, or as Suthep has urged them.

The former prime minister said the charter did not respond to Thailand’s problems and challenges, whether sustainable development, which upholds the benefits of the majority based on guarantees of freedom and liberty fundamental to the health of democracy, corruption problems or the decade-long socio-political conflict and division.

His stance has prompted various views within the party, raising questions about his and the party’s future.

Abhisit, who turns 52 in two days, insists he had to think of the country first and not much about his or the party’s future at this point.

He recalled the time when he entered politics and was impressed by the party’s ideology of working for the people and pursuing a development path that responds to the majority’s needs, which became the critical reason for choosing that stance.

If the charter is accepted, he is ready to accept the majority’s decision.

He said he won’t withdraw from politics. “But I will prepare myself and the party to contest an election.”

This was because individuals were free to take a stand and party members and voters would respect that, he said.

His dislike of the charter was based on his pure feelings for the country and on its contents, not the procedures after, which are about an election and subsequent steps.

That’s the reason why, as a political party, the Democrats will join an election.

However, if the party ran in the election and won a majority of seats and set up the new government, it would face difficulty running the country because of what was inscribed in the charter.

What the Democrats would do is amend it, he said.

If the charter is turned down, he would insist on following the roadmap and the Interim Charter, but people might have to wait for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s next moves.

Prayut, who is also the junta leader, should consider using the 2007 constitution as a template for a new charter, if there was a need to draft one, and he should invite all sectors of society to come up with solutions for problems concerning corruption and the country’s division and conflict, plus reform work.

That would be the best thing, and he trusted that Prayut was capable of leading the process.

Abhisit rejected the notion that he helped Prayut to step down from complications if the charter is voted down.

Prayut should lead the process, he said, because if the country starts anew from the very first question of who should lead the process, that would cause chaos and disagreement. Arguments may not be settled and the process would be dragged out, causing a waste of time.

“I didn’t think of it (the National Council for Peace and Order) at all when making the decision for my stance, that I should help it or so on,” he said.

“If I was an advantage snatcher, I would probably lie back and wait. But here I am, stepping out and making my stance clear, because what I care the most about now is the country’s future. I want to see it move forward and in peace and get the best it deserves. We must find ways toward true democracy, not turn back to the same old path we want to avoid.”

Meanwhile, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan vowed yesterday that he would not run in the next election if the charter passes the referendum. He said the 10-year-long conflict had been caused by an ignorance of democracy.

Jatuporn and his camp, plus Pheu Thai Party members have made it clear from the start that they will vote ‘no’ in the referendum. He said at present no party dared to announce that they would vote in favour of the charter, as they feared they might be branded supporters of a dictatorship.

Draft teachers struggle with lack of information

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Draft-teachers-struggle-with-lack-of-information-30291845.html

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Juthathip Lucksanawong
The Nation August 1, 2016 1:00 am

The government has high hopes that spokespeople for charter drafters can educate voters nationwide on the draft. However, this ambitious goal might not succeed as many voters are still in the dark.

AT DAWN before stepping out of houses on their way to the paddy fields, farmers in Ban Sommai village in Udon Thani province hear a familiar voice over the village’s public address system.

But being in a rush to plant rice before the scorching hot sun reaches its zenith, farmers do not catch many of the words. They do, however, recognise the voice of their headman mumbling along with an unfashionable song about the constitutional referendum on August 7.

Farmers have heard that routine broadcast every morning at dawn for more than a month. Not until the beginning of Buddhist Lent, however, when people gathered at a temple to make merit, did villagers realise what those sounds over the PA system meant.

In the local temple, the village head and nine village committees explained the draft. They are Kru Kor, or “Teacher C”, acting as draft representatives to knock on doors and explain the charter to villagers.

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“We [Teacher Cs] disseminate details of the draft by talking to large groups at social events, so they can further discuss among themselves, which saves time,” said Krisada Monthathip, Udon Thani province’s Ban Sommai village headman.

Krisada’s routine duty starts at 6am every morning when he speaks via the PA system, asking villagers to cast ballots and explaining briefly what the referendum is about.

Teacher Cs were trained for two days before disseminating draft content to villagers – but it was not enough training for them to provide all the answers to people, Krisada said.

Villagers keep asking about the draft, but he does not know the answers because he could not fully learn about all the content during the two days.

What he does remember is that “Teacher Bs” repeatedly reiterated that Teacher Cs must not induce voters to vote in any particular way, otherwise they might be charged with breaching the referendum law. Prohibitions regarding the referendum campaign, a code of conduct when approaching voters, and permissible messages to be disseminated were also on the training agenda, he said.

He admitted Teacher Cs, who each received full charter drafts five weeks before the referendum, have failed to give local residents a good understanding of the draft as the explainers themselves do not fully understand it.

“They are just ordinary people without a legal background and knowledge and we feel the draft contains a lot of technical terms,” he said.

“Even the community leaders do not understand the law, so how can the villagers?”

‘Climate of fear’

The lack of information is not just the result of technical problems.

Teacher Cs cannot give a clear answer to villagers, Krisada said, because of the climate of fear and the junta’s ban on influencing voters. So the people tasked with explaining the draft often prefer to keep silent.

“What villagers want to know most is if this draft is good or not, so they can make a decision,” he said.

Villagers do not have time to study the draft and do not understand technical terms in the law, he said. They just want someone they trust to honestly tell them the pros and cons of the draft and the consequences if the draft is approved or rejected, he added.

“What’s the point in wasting time and budget training us, Teacher Cs, if eventually we cannot explain anything to our neighbours? The only message we can give is ‘please go to cast ballots in the August 7 referendum’. That’s it,” he said.

Following the schedule, one month before referendum day Teacher Cs asked voters to study the draft. However, the draft booklet “10 things you need to know about the draft” was delivered to villagers just two weeks prior to the referendum day, while the full draft was not provided.

“Only advantages of the draft were mentioned in the booklets,” said a villager, who asked to remain unnamed.

Military pressure

Plainclothes military officers also interfere in Teacher Bs and Cs’ mission, said lawyer Teerasak Thongsuang, head of Nong Tad tambon of Buri Ram province. He also serves as a Teacher B.

“They kept observing whenever we were working.”

Teacher Bs were trained for only one day and then tasked to educate Teacher Cs.

As a Teacher B, he said, he feels uncomfortable having officers follow and record video when he and other Teacher Bs train Teacher Cs. He said the Second Army Area commander was also present when provincial Teacher As trained him and others in Buri Ram.

However, a military source said officers did not interfere with the work of draft explainers. He said officers instead supported the referendum mission, following Teacher Bs for security purposes and ensuring that no troublemakers interfered in the referendum campaigners’ work.

Like Krisada, Teerasak said he does not deeply understand the draft – even though he has a legal background – because he has not had time to study every article in the draft.

His duty is training Teacher Cs to read aloud draft booklets to villagers and also to follow Teacher Cs to explain the draft content.

He said local people were mostly concerned about topics perceivably close to their lives, namely social welfare, elderly welfare, free education and important election methods. “They asked me whether it was true or not there would be cuts to elderly welfare, as they had heard from others.”

To answer that question, Teacher Bs explain that it depends on organic laws and policies of the next government as the draft does not confirm whether the elderly would get the same assistance from the state. He said he tried his best to neutrally explain the issue to people who asked him questions but often it remained unclear.

When villagers asked whether the new electoral system, mixed member apportionment, enshrined in the draft works or not – and what would happen if the country uses that system – he cannot speak out because he fears doing so could violate the law.

“That is the best thing we Teacher Bs and Cs can do.”

Waiting for an elected government

Teerasak said local people do not understand the draft and its consequences so they might make a decision based on their favourite politicians or trusted leaders. Villagers also want the climate of fear to end because they are very bored with disputes and argument regarding the draft, he said.

“They want the referendum to end as soon as possible so that they can exercise their electoral rights,” he said.

People want a government and a new local administrative body, he added, as the current powers-that-be cannot fix the country’s economic, social and other problems.

People believe that no matter how well the draft is written, at the end of the day it will be amended by the next powers as has been witnessed in past decades, the sub-district head said.

Importantly, the people feel it is not necessary for them to try to understand the draft, which will be used by the next government rather than as a real guarantee to protect rights.

 

Your Say, Your Charter

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Your-Say-Your-Charter-30291767.html

July 31, 2016 1:00 am
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PRAEWWANIT JONGLEKTRAKUL, 18,

AN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FRESHMAN AT SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY

“I don’t know whether my life would change or not as I do not know what is written in the draft. A new constitution would bring changes to the country. Perhaps, society would be worse as I have heard that the draft would prolong the dictatorship. Anyway, I will go to exercise my voting right as this is my first vote.”

PATTEMA ATTHAKITSIRIKUL, 18,

A LAW FRESHMAN AT KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY

“The draft would change the country in various ways such as the economy. If it is approved, the country would not get better. I have read information about the draft via Facebook that my friends shared. It seems our rights and liberty would be limited. The draft is undemocratic, in my view. But maybe it’s just one-sided information.”

BENYAPA KOTCHAREE, 18,

A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FRESHMAN OF BANGKOK UNIVERSITY

“I previously did not know there would be a referendum on August 7. Now I know and I will go to cast my ballot. If the draft were to be passed, perhaps something would change. Our society would be better as I have heard on TV news programmes that the draft is stricter than the previous one and it could curb graft.”

THANYATORN SINPAKDEE, 18,

A SCIENCE FRESHMAN AT KING MONGKUT’S UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY THONBURI

“Is the referendum like the general election? I don’t know what the draft is about. I saw a packet with draft booklets arrived my home, but I haven’t read it yet. If it were approved, we would see some changes in the society. People would have an opportunity to exercise their electoral rights. However, if it were to be passed, the opposition would stage a rally against the draft resulting in political turmoil, constitutional amendments in the future, and an economic slowdown.”

Democrats split on charter but ‘still in harmony’

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Democrats-split-on-charter-but-still-in-harmony-30291768.html

THE SUNDAY NATION July 31, 2016 1:00 am
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DEMOCRAT PARTY politicians are split as to whether to approve the constitution draft in next Sunday’s referendum, but they respect one another’s decision and are tolerant of different opinions, a senior party official said.

“We have different views [about the charter draft], but we remain in harmony,” said Virat Kalayasiri, Democrat legal expert and former MP.

The reaction came following Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s recent announcement opposing the charter draft, which was also endorsed by the party’s chief adviser Chuan Leekpai.

Suthep Thaugsuban, the leader of People’s Democratic Reform Committee and a former key Democrat member, however, has expressed support for the charter draft and the current regime.

Virat said yesterday that Abhisit’s statement was in keeping with the party’s ideology, which has been around for more than seven decades. Party members must hear the stance, but ultimately everyone is free to decide on their own, he added.

Another member, Warong Dechgitvigrom, formerly a Phitsanulok MP, said yesterday that he would accept the charter draft.

“This is the beauty of democracy within our party. We do not suppress different opinions,” he said.

He explained his decision to approve the charter based on the survival of the country.

“I’m accepting this draft charter because I see that the country is still in an abnormal situation and is facing threats from nefarious elements and false democracy,” Warong said, adding he believed this decision would help move the country forward.

Meanwhile, director of the Democrat office in Trang, Orntipa Thepchu said that the different stances of key actors such as Abhisit, Chuan, and Suthep would not impact the party too much.

The southern Trang province has been the political stronghold of Chuan, a former Democrat leader and former prime minister. She said everyone has their own reasons behind their different stances, but ultimately they all have good intentions.

Asked whether Abhisit’s standpoint would hurt the Trang people’s faith in the Democrats, she said “maybe a little”.

Orntipa said the public could distinguish between an election and a referendum. One is about the party and candidates while the other is about the country’s future, she explained.

Nipit Intrasombat, Democrat deputy leader, said that as the leader of the party Abhisit had to announce his stance, but it is up to the people how to decide and the Democrats always respect that.

‘Victims’ of Article 44 no fans of new charter

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Victims-of-Article-44-no-fans-of-new-charter-30291774.html

SPECIAL REPORT

WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE SUNDAY NATION July 31, 2016 1:00 am
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DEMOCRACY may often be taken far from real politics, but people suffering from absolute and taut legal processes unanimously debunk the junta-promoted constitutional draft, believing democracy is critical to enable public participation in the policy-making process.

The ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has cited the “politically abnormal” post-coup atmosphere as a reason why it needs to enact series of absolute laws from the martial law imposed in 2014 to the current interim charter’s Article 44.

Without bothering to use normal legal procedures, the NCPO head and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is empowered by Article 44, which gives ng him absolute authority to order and replace officials or perform any act, whether legislative, executive or judicial.

Since December 2014, General Prayut has ‘necessarily’ issued 91 orders via this absolute power. This sense of necessity has spanned vastly from setting up new governmental agencies, dealing with drunk drivers, revoking police rank of a fugitive former PM, and too many more to mention.

A series of orders have also been issued to appoint, suspend or shift officers mostly suspected of involvement in grafts or misbehaviour. One example is the NCPO Order Number 19/2015 that shifted 70 officers including Winai Sawasdivorn, then-secretary general of the National Health Security Office (NHSO).

The secretary general, normally, acts with the NHSO board when discussing public health policies with the public health minister, appointed as the NHSO chairman by position.

Former NHSO board member Nimit Tienudom saw that this use of Article 44 as unbalancing proportions of a board made up of representatives from various sides. This variety had helped weigh decisions on health policies to be applied for about 49 million Thais covered by national health security, Nimit explained.

The same order also froze 42 local administrators who were all elected.

Another example from the same category is NCPO Order No 21/2015 dismissing Lt-General Pongsakorn Rodchompoo from his position as a deputy secretary-general at the National Security Council in July last year. The order stopped Pongsakorn from carrying on terrorism issues and made him an adviser to the PM. That, he told The Nation, “requires me to do nothing but a member of some governmental boards, where I again have almost nothing to do.”

Pongsakorn said he still didn’t know why he was transferred, insisting he was not involved with any graft cases.

Prayut also issued orders to push government-promoted reforms. In November last year, Prayutissued NCPO Order Number 40/2015 to “reform” the Social Security Office (SSO) by revamping members of its three boards and advisers.

But this “reform” has grounded the SSO to a bureaucratic pattern since all board members were appointed.

Wilaiwan Saetia, president of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, said the selected board members have not let insured people check the SSO’s financial operations. Lacking extensive participation, Wilaiwan feared the SSO would not transparent and independent enough to protect the benefits of those insured.

The orders, as Prayut claimed, were also issued to speed up decision-making processes. One example is NCPO Order No 9/2016 allowing preparation for construction to be carried out in parallel with environmental impact assessments (EIAs). Previously, EIAs had to be completed before construction but that was said to “consume time”.

The order was followed by worries that the practice would allow building to go on regardless of concerns of local communities.

“With things speeding up, projects are likely to be carried out much less carefully,” Pakpoom Withantirawat, from the Assembly of NGOs for the Protection and Conservation of Environment and Natural Resources, said.

Another bid to speed up processes is the NCPO Order No 36/2016 to reclaim Sor Por Kor land to tackle land encroachment cases around the country.

One affected area is the Klong Sai Pattana community in Surat Thani that is home to hundreds of families, whose faith was shaken by the abrupt order.

“We almost finished dealing with the government in land reform when suddenly this order struck,” Surapon Songrak, a coordinator of the Assembly of Southern Farmers, said.

The orders have also been used to deal with urgent national issues. For instance, NCPO Order No 24/2015 was issued to counter illegal fishing, such as banning of set-bag nets.

Safidee Konkalimeen, a local fisherman in Songkhla, said that almost 200 families had been forced to remove the nets without getting any compensation from authorities.

‘Unanimous rejection’

In a light of next week’s referendum, all of these people linked to or affected by the use of Article 44 unanimously told The Nation that they wished to reject the draft charter.

Some said their sentiments on Prayut‘s government would affect how they will vote.

“This government doesn’t return happiness to people at all,” Safidee said. “I will [vote to] reject the draft. Some other villagers want to vote for it though, because they want to shoo the government away as quickly as possible.”

Surapon shared the same thought. “The government is undemocratic and they don’t listen to us. They also took part in drafting process and I won’t support it.”

Other Article 44 “victims” said they would decide by the content of the new charter and insist on rejecting it if it cut out rights on their concerns when compared with previous charters.

For Nimit, he saw that the draft omits healthcare for the elderly, while Wilaiwan noted that the draft does not guarantee fair wage adjustment like its predecessor did. And Pakpoom felt the draft doesn’t give communities any rights at all.

Pongsakorn, who had his name written in the order, said he would not let his grudge sway how he votes. “But I’ll vote it down anyway, as it bars people from being able to play a significant role in the political arena,” he said.

Almost 90% to vote in referendum: survey

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Almost-90-to-vote-in-referendum-survey-30291775.html

THE SUNDAY NATION July 31, 2016 1:00 am
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NEARLY 90 per cent of people surveyed said they intend to cast their ballots in next Sunday’s referendum, with almost half of them planning to approve the draft constitution, a survey has found.

A total of 87.8 per cent of respondents said they would go to vote and only 6.2 per cent said they did not intend do so, according to results of the survey conducted by Bangkok University’s Research Centre.

More than 48 per cent said they would vote for the draft, compared to 7.7 per cent who said they would reject it and another 8.5 per cent who would abstain, it was found.

However, as many as 35.4 per cent said they were still undecided.

The poll was conducted on 2,810 people nationwide between July 26 to 29, or about one week before the voting day next Sunday.

Despite widespread concern about insufficient dissemination of the charter draft content, more than 65 per cent of the surveyed said they were well satisfied with the Election Commission’s (EC) work on educating them about the charter. Only about a quarter expressed little satisfaction while some eight per cent said they were unsure of the matter.

Asked whether they were worried some people would instigate unrest or incite violence, more than three quarters said no and some 20 per cent said yes.

The poll results were revealed yesterday. The referendum law, however, prohibits publication of any referendum-related survey data during the last seven days ahead of the plebiscite. Violations are a crime punishable by up to three months in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt6,000.

Meanwhile, the EC aims for at least 80 per cent of the eligible voters to turn out. Relevant agencies such as those under the Ministry of Interior currently are working to promote the referendum, disseminate the charter content, and encourage the public to take part in referendum or charter debates.

Government Spokesman Maj-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday said the state had provided stages for the public to exchange their views on the constitution draft nationwide from Friday until Wednesday.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would like to see the people active and well-informed about the referendum and the charter, the spokesman said.

He reiterated that the state never wanted to limit freedom of expression and always supported constructive debates. However, he asked that everyone follow the rule and not distort the facts or be vulgar.

In a related development, spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) revealed that during the last week before the referendum, the drafters might appear live on some television channels to explain about the charter draft, especially on the controversial points about which many people have wrong notions.

In the meantime, he said that they were also working to disseminate information by travelling to provinces and explaining to the community leaders so they could help pass on the information.

Mahidol University tells staff to stop attacking charter

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ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Mahidol-University-tells-staff-to-stop-attacking-c-30291786.html

The Nation July 31, 2016 1:00 am
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Mahidol University issued a statement on Saturday to say it has warned its staff members about expressing their opinion publicly about the charter referendum.

And those doing so were advised to stop, the statement said.

Signed by the university’s rector Udom Kachintorn, the statement responded to the Election Commission’s warning that some of the university’s staff were not being politically impartial on the charter referendum issue – and action which could possibly violate the referendum law.

While claiming to support a free and fair referendum, the statement said that the embattled staff members had been informed about the EC’s letter and had been told that the university would not be responsible for any of their personal actions.

Udom mentioned the name of Gothom Arya, the director of Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies within the university, saying the academic had recently expressed his views about the charter draft.

The IHRP is among only a few educational institutions which have hosted academic seminars on political subjects since the May 2014 coup. Gothom has appeared at many public forums and seminars that were critical of the junta-sponsored charter.

An IHRP representative said that the institute had not reached a decision on how to respond to the statement.

After the statement was released, a number of people expressed solidarity with IHRP on itsFacebook page and their support for its role in educating the public.